First look at waterfront tunnel as Bertha clears the way

BY LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 10:40 am, Friday, October 25, 2013

The tunnel boring machine – Bertha – had cleared about 370 feet of tunnel when this state Department of Transportation photo was taken Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013.
Photo: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The tunnel boring machine – Bertha – had cleared about 370 feet...

Workers are pictured at the launch pit in late October 2013 in this state Department of Transportation photo.
Photo: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Workers are pictured at the launch pit in late October 2013 in this...

The Highway 99 tunnel launch pit is pictured in late October 2013 in this state Department of Transportation photo.
Photo: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The Highway 99 tunnel launch pit is pictured in late October 2013...

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, slated to be replaced by the Highway 99 tunnel by late 2015.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, slated to be replaced by the Highway 99...

Bertha Knights Landes, Seattle’s only woman mayor so far, serving from 1926 to 1928, and the namesake of the tunnel boring machine currently digging its way under Seattle. (Seattle Municipal Archives)

Bertha Knights Landes, Seattle’s only woman mayor so far,...

In this photo made with a fish-eye wide-angle lens, "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, is shown ready to begin drilling later this month, Saturday, July 20, 2013 in Seattle. The tunnel will replace the viaduct, a double deck highway along the downtown Seattle waterfront.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

In this photo made with a fish-eye wide-angle lens, "Bertha," the...

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, left, and former Gov. Chris Gregoire, right, react to applause, Saturday in Seattle, after they took part in the christening of "Bertha," a massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months boring a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, a double deck highway along the downtown Seattle waterfront.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, left, and former Gov. Chris Gregoire,...

Juan Garnero, a construction manager with Seattle Tunnel Partners, gives a tour of the control room of "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Juan Garnero, a construction manager with Seattle Tunnel Partners,...

Several sections of "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, are shown Saturday. The tunnel will replace the viaduct, a double deck highway along the downtown Seattle waterfront.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Several sections of "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine...

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, second from front right, joins members of the public in viewing "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, Saturday in Seattle. The tunnel will replace the viaduct, a double deck highway along the downtown Seattle waterfront.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, second from front right, joins members...

Members of the public write messages Saturda, on a section of curved concrete that will make up the walls of a tunnel being drilled along the downtown Seattle waterfront to replace the aging elevated Alaskan Way viaduct highway shown in the background. The Washington Department of Transportation held an open house Saturday for the public to view progress on the tunnel project.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Members of the public write messages Saturda, on a section of...

Former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, right, and former Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, left, applaud during a ceremony to christen "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, Saturday in Seattle. The tunnel will replace the viaduct, a double deck highway along the downtown Seattle waterfront.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

Former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, right, and former...

A worker positions a bottle of Washington white wine on a rope above "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, prior to a christening ceremony, Saturday in Seattle. The machine is so massive that instead of striking it with bottles, officials cut three ropes to release bottles of wine, Japanese sake, and Spanish Cava to christen the machine.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

A worker positions a bottle of Washington white wine on a rope...

A worker positions a bottle of Spanish Cava on a rope above "Bertha," the massive tunnel-boring machine that is expected to spend the next 14 months drilling a two-mile tunnel to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct, prior to a christening ceremony, Saturday in Seattle. The machine is so massive that instead of striking it with bottles, officials cut three ropes to release bottles of wine, Japanese sake, and Spanish Cava to christen the machine.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

A worker positions a bottle of Spanish Cava on a rope above...

Washington Secretary of Transportation Lynne Peterson points to the Alaskan Way Viaduct elevated roadway that will be replaced by a two-mile waterfront tunnel, Saturday as she speaks at a christening ceremony for the tunnel-boring machine in Seattle.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

A message reads "Have a good ride Bertha!" Saturday, July 20, 2013, that was left on a section of curved concrete that will make up the walls of a tunnel being drilled along the downtown Seattle waterfront to replace the aging elevated Alaskan Way viaduct highway. Members of the public were invited to sign pieces of the tunnel walls during an open house held by Washington Dept. of Transportation for the public to view progress on the tunnel project. "Bertha" is the name of the massive tunnel boring machine that will be used to dig the tunnel.
Photo: Ted S. Warren, AP

A message reads "Have a good ride Bertha!" Saturday, July 20, 2013,...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of...

People watch as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

People watch as the cutter head of the Washington State Department...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of...

Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is shown in its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway...

An IMAX film crew works as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

An IMAX film crew works as the cutter head of the Washington State...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of...

People look into the pit as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

People look into the pit as the cutter head of the Washington State...

Members of the public try to get a view as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Members of the public try to get a view as the cutter head of the...

People gather as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

People gather as the cutter head of the Washington State Department...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of...

Workers and officials pose for a photo as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Workers and officials pose for a photo as the cutter head of the...

Workers and officials pose for a photo as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Workers and officials pose for a photo as the cutter head of the...

People look into the pit as the cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

People look into the pit as the cutter head of the Washington State...

The cutter head of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Big Bertha Highway 99 tunnel boring machine is lowered into its launch pit on Friday, May 31, 2013. The machine is scheduled to be launched in July and will emerge from the other end of the tunnel 14 months later.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

The first photos of the gaping hole being carved under Alaskan Way give a better sense of the size of the waterfront tunnel.

The new Highway 99 tunnel boring machine has cut more than 370 feet into the tunnel, which will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel boring machine, dug its way out of the launch pit earlier this week.

Digging began July 30, and workers still have about 9,000 feet to go for the initial tunnel. The tunnel is expected to be fully bored by late 2014, and open to traffic in late 2015.

All told, the project is expected to cost $3.1 billion, half of which will come from the state gas taxes.